Zhu Yuanzhang

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Zhu Yuanzhang (朱元璋)
Alias(es)	Minghe Monk; Zhu Chongba 2 18
Species/Race	Human; later capable of assuming a Deep One (merfolk) form 37 41
Gender	Male
Age	16 at the beginning of the story 1 13
Affiliation	Imperial Awakening Temple; Tongtai Temple during the Green Silk White Horse Comes to Shouyang Secret History 13 23
Occupation/Role	Investigator; novice monk and Secret History participant 10 23
Status	Alive; can restart after dying within Secret Histories, though he recognizes that reality grants him only one life 2 16
First Appearance	Chapter 1

Power Progression

Stage / Realm / Level	Chapter	Notes
Great Wisdom Zen Technique — activated	3	Uses the technique to clear the Mahavira Hall’s hallucinations and regain mental clarity.
Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique — “Desire Fire Does Not Burn”	7	Successfully visualizes Dingguang Buddha and gains immunity to fire.
Mountain-Shrinking Fist — mastered	10	Completes the fist art with Mingde’s protection; his blood and qi consolidate, allowing access to its visualization method.
Great Wisdom Zen Technique — Great Completion / Holy Wish-Fulfillment	12	Permanently locks in Minghe’s cultivation and obtains the Holy Wish-Fulfillment insight.
Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique — cultivated in reality	13	Re-establishes the technique outside the Secret History and manifests a golden-red True Fire.
Dingguang Buddha’s Precious Appearance — Impermanence Aspect	32	Consumes a pill made from Xiao Tong’s essence blood and cultivates Tongtai Temple’s supreme Dharma Aspect.
Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Technique / Tiger transformation	33	Receives Faci’s transmission and commands the Tiger-Skin Monk Robe to become a fierce tiger.
Deep One transformation	37	Is transformed into a merfolk-like Deep One after entering the Bitter Sea; Faci teaches him to control the new body.
Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique — second True Fire	42	Recklessly expends ten years of lifespan to ignite a second True Fire while fighting Consort Ding.
Mountain-Shrinking Fist — Second Layer	43	Reaches the second layer, strengthening his Deep One form and allowing one-handed use of the Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle.

Background

Zhu Yuanzhang is a modern man who transmigrates into the body of a sixteen-year-old orphan in the fourth year of Zhizheng. His host body entered Imperial Awakening Temple after a locust plague killed his parents, siblings, and most of his family; only his sister-in-law Li Zhen and nephew Wen Zhong survived with him. 1

At the temple, he acquires access to a TRPG Simulator that places him in Secret Histories—dangerous historical scenarios in which he inhabits the identity of the monk Minghe. Death in these scenarios allows him to restart, retain knowledge, and eventually permanently fix a learned skill. 2 11 12

Appearance

Zhu Yuanzhang initially appears as a malnourished, thin, dark-complexioned teenage novice monk in worn monastic clothing. 1 13

• Wears the gray robes of an Imperial Awakening Temple disciple while acting as Minghe. 1
• Possesses unusually vigorous essence, energy, and spirit after beginning cultivation. 13
• In Deep One form, develops scales, fins, bone claws, webbing, bluish-gray flesh, and a foul marine stench. 40 43 49
• Some Deep One mutations remain after he reverts, including a scaled and webbed finger that he cannot restore. 43

Personality

Zhu Yuanzhang is pragmatic, observant, and exceptionally cautious. He studies hostile people, historical events, and cultivation techniques as evidence to be analyzed; his deductions expose Yang Lianzhenjia’s political faction, the Incense Army’s pursuit of Minghe’s “great destiny,” and Emperor Wu of Liang’s awareness of Xiao Zhengde’s treason. 3 17 26

His willingness to exploit repeated deaths makes him bold inside Secret Histories, but he remains far more restrained in reality. He routinely avoids unknown dangers, refuses to enter unexplored passages without preparation, and favors overwhelming advantages over uncertain fights. 9 15 16

Despite his suspicion and sarcasm, Zhu Yuanzhang displays compassion toward victims of the temple conspiracies. After defeating Zhao Zhen, he cremates the enslaved, mummified monks of Imperial Awakening Temple to grant them release. He also repeatedly risks himself to protect Fu Qi and the Prince of Yuzhang. 16 40 49

Abilities & Skills

TRPG Simulator and Secret History Restart

Zhu Yuanzhang can enter historical “Secret Histories,” experience events as Minghe, and restart after dying.

• Retains knowledge gained from failed attempts, allowing him to alter his behavior and investigate lethal scenarios. 2 3
• Completes mission objectives to permanently lock in skills cultivated by Minghe. 11 12
• Can trigger new Secret Histories through significant places, figures, or events. 19 22
• The restart ability does not apply to reality; Zhu Yuanzhang explicitly distinguishes his single real life from his expendable Secret History attempts. 16

Great Wisdom Zen Technique

A mental-cultivation art and form of Mind-Settling Zen that improves wisdom, perception, and control.

• Disperses mental interference and hallucinations, including the seduction illusion within Imperial Awakening Temple’s Mahavira Hall. 3
• Reaches Great Completion and grants the Holy Wish-Fulfillment insight. 12
• Holy Wish-Fulfillment subtly causes others to view him more favorably. 28
• Offsets part of the life-draining cost of the Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique. 13
• Enhances the blood and qi of the Mountain-Shrinking Fist. 18
• Has little direct combat power by itself and can conflict violently with Dingguang cultivation. 8 42

Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique

A fire-based Buddhist cultivation method centered on visualizing Dingguang Buddha and manifesting True Fire.

• Grants Desire Fire Does Not Burn, making Zhu immune to fire. 7
• Produces golden-red True Fire capable of dispelling evil influences and burning supernatural enemies. 13 42
• Can be used through Fixed-Light Manifestation: Ancient Buddha Dropping Radiance. 42
• Zhu eventually ignites two strands of True Fire. 42
• Consumes essence, energy, spirit, and lifespan; major displays can cost years of life. 10 13 42
• Conflicts with both the Great Wisdom Zen Technique and the Mountain-Shrinking Fist. 18 42

Mountain-Shrinking Fist

An aquatic martial art connected to the Tanka people and the visualization of Dagon.

• Consolidates Zhu’s blood and qi, improves his physique, and makes him instinctively attuned to damp, water-laden environments. 10
• Forms a deep-blue horny covering over his hands during use. 16
• Can defeat Shadow Walkers and break mechanisms that resist True Fire. 17 16
• Reinforces Zhu’s Deep One body and lets him wield the Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle with ease. 43
• Its Dagon-based cultivation contributes to the gradual alteration of Zhu’s body and soul. 36 37

Impermanence Aspect

The first Dharma Aspect of the Dingguang Buddha’s Precious Appearance and Tongtai Temple’s supreme Dharma Aspect.

• Cultivated through a Great Medicinal Treasure Pill refined from the essence blood of former Crown Prince Xiao Tong. 32 33
• Allows Zhu to experience the Bitter Sea and comprehend the Four Noble Truths. 32
• Greatly improves his Dingguang Demon-Subduing True Technique. 32

Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Technique

A secret technique transmitted by Faci to help Zhu control nonhuman transformations.

• Allows command of the Tiger-Skin Monk Robe and transformation into a striped fierce tiger. 33
• Provides heightened sight, hearing, and smell in tiger form. 34
• Later helps Zhu control his Deep One body. 37 38

Deep One Form

A merfolk-like transformation tied to the Bitter Sea, Dagon, and the Mountain-Shrinking Fist.

• Provides scales, claws, fins, tremendous physical resilience, and rapid wound recovery. 40 49 50
• Allows Zhu to survive briefly after being frozen and bisected. 42
• Gives him enhanced underwater vision and a connection to ancient Deep One history. 36 37
• The transformation is unstable; residual mutations remain even after he assumes human form. 43
• His hardened Deep One skin can still be pierced by the refined steel spears of Xianbei shock cavalry. 49

Investigation and Historical Reasoning

Zhu Yuanzhang applies modern historical knowledge, repeated trial results, and cultivation analysis to uncover hidden motives.

• Identifies Yang Lianzhenjia’s competing factional loyalties and his support for Crown Prince Zhenjin. 3
• Recognizes the Incense Army’s plan to kill the monks of Imperial Awakening Temple and seize Minghe’s fate-changing destiny. 17
• Deduces that Emperor Wu of Liang already knows of Xiao Zhengde’s collusion with Hou Jing. 26
• Uses local legends surrounding the Qinhuai River and Jinling’s dragon vein to focus his investigation on Taicheng. 30

Equipment / Weapons / Items

• Tiger-Skin Monk Robe — Given by Faci; enables tiger transformation when controlled through the Sangqiwo Jataka Secret Technique. 33
• Demon-Subduing Vajra Pestle — A heavy weapon Zhu carries while traversing Taicheng; becomes easy to wield one-handed in Deep One form. 43 44
• Bodhi Fruits — Gao Bin gives him two fruits containing the cultivation method for the Buddha Speaks of the Soapberry Sutra and clues to Imperial Awakening Temple’s hidden fortune. 20 21
• Great Medicinal Treasure Pill — A consumable refined from Xiao Tong’s essence blood; grants the opportunity to cultivate the Impermanence Aspect at the cost of lifespan. 32 33

Relationships

• Mingde — The shadowless Umbrella Monk who guides Zhu to the Mountain-Shrinking Fist, protects him during cultivation, and appears invested in extending his life. 8 9 10
• Minghui — Mummified master of Imperial Awakening Temple who initially protects Minghe, offers him a place in his lineage, and teaches him the Maitreya Descends Sutra. 3 5
• Gao Bin — Abbot of Imperial Awakening Temple; gives Zhu the Bodhi Fruits and treats him as the final survivor among the monks who entered in the third year of Zhizheng. 20
• Yuanhui — Senior brother who warns Zhu about the missing monks and expresses concern for his safety; later murdered by Zhao Zhen. 13 15
• Zhao Zhen — Incense Army infiltrator and disciple of the Prince of Zhou; Zhu defeats and kills him after exposing his White Lotus Sect allegiance. 15 16
• Faci — Tongtai Temple monk who gives Zhu the pill, Sangqiwo technique, and Tiger-Skin Monk Robe. Though Faci initially intends to turn him into a Human Pill, he later protects Zhu and entrusts him with rebuilding Tongtai Temple. 32 33 35 38
• Huzi — An innkeeper’s nephew who befriends Zhu, shares Jinling’s local legends, helps procure supplies, and secretly gives him a silver ingot. 28 29 30
• Fu Qi — Southern Liang official whom Zhu assists in rescuing the Prince of Yuzhang; their alliance is tempered by Zhu’s awareness of Fu Qi’s manipulative political ambitions. 40 44 49
• Xiao Dong — Prince of Yuzhang; Zhu repeatedly protects him during their escape from Taicheng and the ambush at Xuanyang Gate. 48 49

Story Role / Major Arcs

Imperial Awakening Temple

Zhu first awakens at Imperial Awakening Temple after transmigrating into the sixteen-year-old Zhu Chongba. His Simulator immediately places him in the Yinglong Temple Secret History, where he repeatedly dies to Yang Lianzhenjia and Mingguang before learning to conceal his knowledge and survive the night. 1 2 3

He chooses the Dingguang Demon-Subduing Scroll over Minghui’s Maitreya Descends Sutra, masters the Mountain-Shrinking Fist with Mingde’s help, and permanently locks in the Great Wisdom Zen Technique after completing the first act. 6 10 12

Incense Army Conflict

Back in reality, Zhu cultivates the techniques he obtained through Minghe and uncovers the massacre of monks who entered the temple in the third year of Zhizheng. He confronts Zhao Zhen, learns that the Incense Army seeks a destiny linked to Minghe, and destroys Zhao Zhen’s operation within Imperial Awakening Temple. 13 16 17

After Gao Bin entrusts him with Bodhi Fruits and clues to the temple’s legacy, Zhu leaves for Hao Prefecture. There, he discovers that the Hao Prefecture Escort Agency is tied to the White Lotus Sect and that Zhou Ziwang’s Incense Army is hunting him. 20 21 22

Green Silk White Horse Comes to Shouyang

To obtain the Dingguang Divine Mantra and survive the Incense Army’s pursuit, Zhu enters the Secret History of Southern Liang’s Taicheng. He poses as a Tongtai Temple monk, investigates Emperor Wu of Liang’s handling of Hou Jing’s rebellion, and studies the temple’s secret mantras. 19 23 25 26

Guided by Faci, he cultivates the Impermanence Aspect, gains the Tiger-Skin Monk Robe, and undergoes Deep One transformation after descending into the Bitter Sea. 32 33 37

Escape from Taicheng

With the deadline for Taicheng’s fall approaching, Zhu works with Fu Qi and Yang Kan to extract the Prince of Yuzhang. He battles Consort Ding, repeatedly restarts after fatal encounters, and ultimately escorts Xiao Dong through the city’s collapsing defenses. 40 42 44 48

At Xuanyang Gate, Zhu reveals his Deep One form to repel disguised Xianbei soldiers and protect Xiao Dong, but Xianbei shock cavalry eventually pin him down with spears, forcing another Secret History restart. 49 50

Notable Quotes

“Since things have come to this, I'll eat first.” 1

“Life only happens once; in the real world, Zhu Yuanzhang's principle was to always overestimate the enemy.” 15

“No matter what kind of thing you are... With all the study I, Minghe, have dedicated to the Dharma in this life! Come and fight!” 42